“We didn’t have a candidate who could actually win last year.”
I disagree. Giuliani could have won. Romney could have won. Both actually wanted to win. I believe that Thompson (Fred, that is) would have had a shot as well with a bit more public display of a desire to lead.
None of them could have gotten past the open primaries. Remember, neither Obama nor Hillary campaigned in Florida because they were supposed to not be seated, remember. That left all the dems free to vote in OUR primary and vote they did.